Medical double-sided false eyelash tape apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for attaching an artificial eyelash structure including a first tape, a second tape, and an artificial eyelash structure. The first tape may be a medical double-sided tape in which a first side is placed on an upper eyelid and a set of false eyelashes is placed on a second opposing side of tape. The combination of the first and the second tape, wherein the second tape typically is in a color. When in the color black the second tape gives the appearance of eyeliner while holding the artificial eyelash structure without the use of glue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a continuation in part of and claims thepriority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/229,084, titled “MEDICALDOUBLE-SIDED FALSE EYELASH TAPE” filed on Aug. 19, 2008, inventor SoRenaMelinda Dix.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerningproviding cosmetic enhancements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for providing cosmeticenhancements. For example, mascara is used to add to thickness andlength to a person's natural lashes. In addition, gluing a set of falseeyelashes to the edge of a person's eyelid or gluing individual falseeyelashes onto a person's natural lashes to give added thickness andlength is known in the art. However, many people have allergies or amedical condition and cannot wear mascara or apply glue to apply falseeyelashes. Also glue can leak into a person's eyes.

The application of individual eyelashes, known in the art as eyelashextension, is applied with a glue adhesive which is generally known inthe art. However, the glue adhesive may cause a person's naturaleyelashes to fall off. After repeated applications of this process overtime, eventually the natural eyelashes may never grow back.

Known eyelash extensions typically entail the attachment of anindividual artificial eye lash onto a natural eye lash, and after timethe natural lash falls off with the attached artificial eyelash.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present application a first tape, such as amedical double-sided tape, is provided. The first tape typicallyincludes two sides. The medical double-sided tape may beclear/transparent.

In one embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention,a first side of the medical double-sided tape is placed on a person'supper eyelid. A set of false eyelashes is placed on a second opposingside of the medical double-sided tape.

One or more embodiments of the present invention avoid the use of glue.In another embodiment of the present application, non-medical tape in acolor, for example black, may be attached to one side of the medical orfirst tape. This may be done by a manufacturer of medical andnon-medical adhesive/tape and may be retailed as a final product.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention and apparatus isprovided comprising a first tape having a first side with a firstadhesive and an opposing second side with a second adhesive, and anartificial eyelash structure. The first tape may be a medical gradetape. The first adhesive of the first tape may be a medical gradeadhesive which is configured to be applied to a person's skin. Theartificial eyelash structure may be configured to be attached to ordetached from the second adhesive of the first tape. The first tape maybe flat and transparent.

In one or more embodiments an apparatus may be provided including anapparatus comprising a first tape having a first side with a firstadhesive and an opposing second side, a second tape having a first sidewith a first adhesive, means for attaching the second tape to the firsttape, and an artificial eyelash structure. The means for attaching thesecond tape, which may have a color and may not be transparent, to thefirst tape may be a second adhesive attached to a second side of thesecond tape which opposes the first side of the second tape or may be asecond adhesive attached to a second side of the first tape whichopposes the first side of the first tape. The artificial eyelashstructure may be configured to be attached to or detached from thesecond adhesive of the second tape. The second tape may be colored,while the first tape may be transparent.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention a method may beprovided comprising adhering a first tape to skin of an upper eyelid ofa person, and attaching an artificial eyelash structure to the firsttape, wherein the first tape is a medical grade tape, which includes amedical grade adhesive which is adhered to the skin of the upper eyelidof the person in order to adhere the first tape to the skin of the uppereyelid of the person. The method may further include adhering a secondtape to the first tape, wherein the artificial eyelash structure isattached to the second tape in order to attach the artificial eyelashstructure to the first tape. The method may further include detachingthe artificial eyelash structure from the first tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a top view of a first tape for use in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows a bottom view of the first tape of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C shows a cross sectional view of the first tape of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A shows a front view of an eye structure of a person;

FIG. 2B shows a front view of the first tape of FIG. 1A taped to anupper eyelid of the eye structure of FIG. 2A in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C shows a front view of an artificial eyelash structure for use inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D shows a front view of the artificial eyelash structure of FIG.2C attached to the first tape of FIG. 1A in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a top view of a second tape;

FIG. 3B shows a bottom view of the second tape;

FIG. 3C shows a cross sectional view of the second tape;

FIG. 4A shows a simplified cross sectional view of the following: theartificial eyelash structure of FIG. 2C, the second tape of FIG. 3A, thefirst tape of FIG. 1A, and the upper eyelid of FIG. 2A in a state inwhich they are separate and apart from each other, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B shows a simplified cross sectional view of the artificialeyelash structure of FIG. 2C, the second tape of FIG. 3A, the first tapeof FIG. 1A, and the upper eyelid of FIG. 2A in a state in which they areattached together, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C show top, bottom, and cross sectional views of a first tape10 for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The first tape 10 includes a first adhesive 12, a backing 14, and asecond adhesive 16 as shown in FIG. 1C. The first tape 10 may be adouble sided medical tape known in the art. The backing 14 may be madeof a medical grade strength adhesive paper known in the art. The firstand second adhesives 12 and 16 may each be medical grade adhesives usedand/or approved for adhering to human skin. Either the first adhesive 12or the second adhesive 16 may be adhered to human skin, i.e. typicallythe first tape 10 can be flipped or is reversible.

The first adhesive 12 is attached to one side 14 a of the backing 14 andthe second adhesive 16 is attached to the other side 14 b of the backing14, typically during a manufacturing process as known in the art. Themedical tape 10 has a top side 10 a, a bottom side 10 b, and edges 11 a,11 b, 11 c, and 11 d.

The first tape 10 may be elongated. The first tape 10, including thefirst adhesive 12, the backing 14, and the second adhesive 16 may betransparent or clear, or substantially transparent or clear. The firsttape 10 may have a width, W1 of about one to three centimeters, from theedge 11 a to the edge 11 c, and may have a length, L1 of about one inch,from the edge 11 b to the edge 11 d. The width W1 of the tape 10 may beslightly wider than a width (or smaller dimension) W2, shown in FIG. 2Cof a backing or band 122 of a false or artificial eyelash structure 120shown in FIG. 2C. The length, L1, of the first tape 10, may be about oneinch, which is about the length of an eye. In one or more embodiments astrip of tape much longer than one inch may be provided and the userwill be able to cut the strip of tape to the desired length, for one ormore tapes which may be in the form of first tape 10. The first tape 10may have a depth or thickness, D1, shown in FIG. 3C, which may be verythin such as about one millimeter or less (for example, 0.20 mm). Thefirst tape 10 is shown in a simplified format in FIGS. 1A-C, but in oneor more embodiments would be very thin, i.e. would have a very smalldepth D1, which would be much smaller than the width W1 and the lengthL1.

FIG. 2A shows a simplified front view of an eye structure 100 of aperson. The eye structure 100 includes an upper eyelid 102, a lowereyelid 104, a plurality of upper eyelashes 106, a plurality of lowereyelashes 108, an eyeball 110, and a pupil 112 within the eyeball 110.

FIG. 2B shows a front view of the first tape 10 of FIG. 1A taped to theupper eyelid 102 of the eye structure 100 of FIG. 2A in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. The first tape 10 may be tapedon the edge of the upper eyelid 102 near eyeball 110, and in at leastone embodiment, is not taped to the upper eyelashes 106. The first tape10 is taped to the upper eyelid 102 so that the second adhesive 16 andbottom side or surface 10 b sticks or adheres to skin of the uppereyelid 102. The first 10 is typically not adhered to the plurality ofupper eyelashes 106, but rather is adhered to skin of the upper eyelid102 behind the upper eyelashes 106.

FIG. 2C shows a simplified front view of an artificial eyelash structure120 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in astate where the artificial eyelash structure 120 has been bent, curledup, or curved slightly to conform to the upper eyelid 102. Theartificial eyelash structure 120 includes a backing 122 to which areattached a plurality of eyelashes 124.

FIG. 2D shows a front view of the artificial eyelash structure 120 ofFIG. 2C attached to the first tape 10 of FIG. 1A in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2D the backing 122 of theeyelash structure 120 is attached to the top surface or side 10 a of thefirst tape 10. The plurality of eyelashes 124 may be attached to a frontsurface of the backing 122, and the backing 122 may have an opposingrear surface which is attached to the top surface or side 10 a of thefirst tape 10 in FIG. 2D.

The backing 122 of the artificial eyelash structure 120 may betransparent or may be colored in some embodiments. The backing 122 ofthe artificial eyelash structure 120 may be a rubber, plastic ormaterial known in the art which has a very slim depth, D2 shown in FIG.4A, such as one centimeter or less. Using a backing 122, which is in acolor, may aid in the camouflaging of the medical tape 10. The backing122 of the artificial eyelash structure 120 may be made of rubber. Theartificial eyelash structure 120 may be an artificial eyelash structureknown in the art.

The first tape 10 may be thin. The first tape 10 may be transparent andhypo-allergenic. The combination of the first tape 10 and the artificialeyelash structure 120 may be very useful for those with allergies ormedical conditions who cannot use glue to apply false eyelashes in apreviously known fashion. The first tape 10 is typically water-resistantin one or more embodiments. The first tape 10 should be of a type whichhas been approved to be placed on human skin without irritation when itis removed. In one or more embodiments, the first tape 10 and theeyelash structure 120, together present the effect of natural eyelashes.

FIGS. 3A-C show top, bottom, and cross sectional views of a second tape200 for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The second tape 200 includes a first adhesive 212, which typically doesnot have to be medical grade as it will not come in contact with theperson's skin, a backing 214, and a second adhesive 216 as shown in FIG.3C. The second tape 200 may be a double sided tape known in the art, butdoes not need to be a medical tape in one or more embodiments. In one ormore embodiments the second adhesive 216 may be eliminated and thesecond tape 200 may only include the first adhesive 212 attached to thebacking 214.

The second tape 200 may be black in color in accordance with anembodiment. The second tape 200 may be used as a substitute for eyelineror may provide the appearance of eyeliner so that it appears thateyeliner is being worn. The second tape 200 may be attached to the firsttape 10 during a manufacturing process.

In one or more embodiments, the backing 214 of the second tape 200 maybe used to provide the illusion or appearance of eyeliner. The backing214 may be made of any adhesive backing known in the art. The backing214 may be a color, such as black or any other color. In one or moreembodiments, the backing 214 of the second tape 200 may be used to matchskin tone. For example, if the person has brown skin, the backing 214may be brown to blend in with the person's brown skin. Similarly, if aperson has brown natural eyelashes the backing 214 may be brown to blendin with the color of the natural eyelashes. The first adhesive 212 andthe optional second adhesive 216, if any, may also be in a color similarto the backing 214 to blend in with the person's skin or eyelash color.

The first adhesive 212 is attached to one side 214 a of the backing 214and the second adhesive 216 if applied is attached to the other side 214b of the backing 214, typically during a manufacturing process as knownin the art. An attachment of second adhesive 216 to side 214 b isoptional if there is an absence of adhesive 12 on one side of the firsttape 10. In at least one preferred embodiment, an end user would notattach the second tape 200 to the first tape 10 but rather the secondtape 200 would be attached to the first tape 10 during a manufacturingprocess. Either the first adhesive 212 or the second adhesive 216 may beeliminated since the adhesive 12 (or 16) of the first tape 10 can beattached to the backing 214 without the need for another adhesive inbetween the first tape 10 and the second tape 200. The second tape 200has a top side 200 a, a bottom side 200 b, and edges 201 a, 201 b, 201c, and 201 d.

The second tape 200 may be elongated. The second tape 200 may have thesame width, W1, and the same length L1, as well as substantially thesame depth or thickness of the first tape 10, one to three centimeters,or thicker. In one or more embodiments a strip of tape much longer thanone inch may be provided and the user will be able to cut the strip oftape to the desired length, for one or more tapes which may be in theform of second tape 200. The second tape 200 may have a depth orthickness, D1, which may be very thin such as one millimeter or less(for example, 0.20 mm). The second tape 200 is shown in a simplifiedformat in FIGS. 3A-C, but in one or more embodiments would be very thin,such as one millimeter or less, i.e. would have a very small depth D1,which would be much smaller than the width W1 and the length L1.

FIG. 4A shows a simplified cross sectional view of the artificialeyelash structure 120 of FIG. 2C, the second tape 200 of FIG. 3A, thefirst tape 10 of FIG. 1A, and the upper eyelid 102 of FIG. 2A in a statein which they are separate and apart from each other, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B shows a simplified crosssectional view of the artificial eyelash structure 120 of FIG. 2C, thesecond tape 200 of FIG. 3A, the first tape 10 of FIG. 1A, and the uppereyelid 102 of FIG. 2A in a state in which they are attached together, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The backing 122of the artificial eyelash structure 120 may have a length L1 which isapproximately equal to the length L1 of the first tape 10 and the secondtape 200. The backing 122 may have a width W1, not shown in FIG. 4Awhich may be the same as the width W1 of the first tape 10 and thesecond tape 200. The backing 122 of the artificial eyelash structure 120may have a depth or thickness, D1, which may be very thin such as onemillimeter (mm). The backing 122 is shown in a simplified format inFIGS. 4A-B, but in one or more embodiments would be very thin, i.e.would have a very small depth D1, which would be much smaller than thewidth W1 and the length L1.

In at least one embodiment, the end user person will apply the firsttape 10 to their upper eyelid, such as 102 as in FIG. 4B. I.e. thesecond tape 200, which typically is of a color and may be black incolor, typically will already be attached or adhered to the first tape10 through an adhering process performed by a manufacturer. Inoperation, referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, the first tape 10 can be applied toskin of the upper eyelid 102 by attaching the adhesive 16 to the uppereyelid 102. In at least one embodiment, a manufacturer may havepreviously adhered the second tape 200 to the first tape 10, so that theadhesive 216 of the second tape 200 is attached to the adhesive 12 ofthe first tape 10. The second tape 200 is typically attached to thefirst tape 10 so that the tapes 10 and 200 are aligned. The second tape200, in one embodiment, aligns with and overlaps, typically in equalmeasurement, the first tape 10, and the second tape 200 typically doesnot touch the skin of the upper eyelid 102. In at least one embodiment,only one of the adhesives 216 and 12 may be needed and therefore one orthe other can be eliminated.

With the attachment of the first tape 10 to the upper eyelid 102, theartificial eyelash structure 120 may be attached, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. After the second tape 200 has been attachedto the first tape 10, typically by a manufacturer, the combination oftape 10 and tape 200 can then be attached to the upper eyelid 102.Thereafter, the artificial eyelash structure 120 may be attached to thesecond tape 200. A bottom surface 122 b of the backing 122 of theartificial eyelash structure 120 may be attached to the adhesive 212 inorder to attach the artificial eyelash structure 120 to the second tape200. The backing 122 of the artificial eyelash structure 120 istypically aligned with the backing 214 of the second tape 200 so thatthe artificial eyelash structure 120 typically does not touch skin ofthe upper eyelid 102.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

1. An apparatus comprising: a first tape having a first side with afirst adhesive and an opposing second side with a second adhesive; andan artificial eyelash structure; and wherein the first tape is a medicalgrade tape; wherein the adhesive on the first side is a medical gradeadhesive which is configured to be applied to a person's skin; andwherein the artificial eyelash structure is configured to be attached toor detached form the second adhesive of the first tape.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the first tape is flat.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein The first tape is transparent.
 4. An apparatus comprising afirst tape having a first side with a first adhesive and an opposingsecond side; a second tape having a first side with a first adhesive;means for attaching the second tape to the first tape; an artificialeyelash structure; and wherein the first tape is a medical grade tape;wherein the first adhesive of the first tape is a medical grade adhesivewhich is configured to be applied to a person's skin; and wherein thefirst adhesive of the second tape is configured to be attached to ordetached form the artificial eyelash structure.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the means for attaching the second tape to the firsttape is a second adhesive attached to a second side of the second tapewhich opposes the first side of the second tape.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the means for attaching the second tape to the firsttape is a second adhesive attached to a second side of the first tapewhich opposes the first side of the first tape.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the second tape is colored and the first tape istransparent.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 the second tape and the firsttape are flat.
 9. A method comprising: adhering a first tape to skin ofan upper eyelid of a person; and attaching an artificial eyelashstructure to the first tape; and wherein the first tape is a medicalgrade tape, which includes a medical grade adhesive which is adhered tothe skin of the upper eyelid of the person in order to adhere the firsttape to the skin of the upper eyelid of the person.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising adhering a second tape to the first tape; andwherein the artificial eyelash structure is attached to the second tapein order to attach the artificial eyelash structure to the first tape.11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second tape is adhered to thefirst tape by a manufacturer of the first tape and the second tape. 12.The method of claim 9 further comprising detaching the artificialeyelash structure from the first tape.
 13. The method of claim 9 whereinthe first tape is flat.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the secondtape is colored and the first tape is transparent.